Generally, drug discovery has been a vertically oriented business with the entire value chain—from basic research to clinical trials, manufacture and marketing—carried out by a single pharmaceutical corporation. However, recently years have seen a shift towards a more horizontal, collaborative model. Companies and institutions with specialized strengths in specific research stages or technological fields are working together to advance the drug discovery process. This model is more efficient than an isolated, in-house process as it speeds up R&D and improves probability of success, leading in turn to a competitive advantage. Co-creation between several organizations like this is a drug discovery ecosystem, a system of collaboration which fosters sustained innovation in the challenging field of drug discovery R&D.

Drug discovery ecosystems have been established in both Europe and the United States, promoting cooperation among various players in the pharmaceutical industry. The Japanese government is also setting policy goals in this area, launching investments and holding the Gate Opening Summit for Innovative Drug Discovery in July 2024.

One development in the world of pharmaceuticals making drug discovery ecosystems so important is the diversification of modalities. Modalities are treatment methods, including things like small molecule compounds, antibody drugs, peptide drugs, nucleic acid drugs, cell drugs, gene therapy and regenerative medicine. Developing new modalities not only requires highly advanced, specialist technology and knowledge on the action of drugs towards diseases, but also faces greater challenges regarding safety, manufacturing, regulation and approval processes. Drug discovery ecosystems are utilized by many pharmaceutical companies to overcome these challenges by seeking the seeds of new pharmaceuticals from drug discovery ventures and academia then entrusting manufacturing process development to contract manufacturing organizations.

Changes in unmet medical needs are also making R&D of new drugs challenging. Needs for lifestyle-related diseases, which have many patients, are being met, but rare diseases and cancers are increasing in needs. Discovering a drug that is individually suited to diverse causes and small numbers of patients is a big challenge in terms of acquiring technology, equipment, and specialized personnel. The drug discovery ecosystem helps to support this process, enabling us to approach diseases that were previously incurable.

In 2023, Teijin Pharma announced the establishment of a new joint venture company to provide research capabilities and support services to partners in the drug discovery field.

As an independent venture, the new company is founded on Teijin Pharma’s assets, such as infrastructure, research data and human resources, and works closely with customers to advance projects in the discovery stages with the aim of realizing innovation together.

Founded together with Axcelead Inc., owner of a group of companies that make up Japan’s first integrated drug discovery platform, Axcelead Tokyo West Partners Inc. (Axcelead TWP) was established in April 2024. Axcelead Inc. is an ideal partner for Teijin Pharma, controlling subsidiaries including Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc., a world-class drug discovery solutions provider and ARCALIC, Inc., the Asia-Pacific region’s first GMP-compliant*¹ integrated mRNA vaccine CDMO*². With this joint venture, Axcelead Inc. will promote innovation in pharmaceutical companies and drug discovery players both in Japan and overseas, leveraging the deeply established research expertise and drug discovery technologies cultivated over the past 50 years by Teijin Pharma.

 

^*1 Good Manufacturing Practice: Compliance with pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control standards as established by the relevant agencies
^*2 Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization